Cole may miss six weeks of action

Aston Villa’s on-loan striker Carlton Cole could be out for six weeks with a knee injury.

Chelsea, Cole’s parent club, will now decide whether the England U21 international will require surgery to solve the problem.

Meanwhile Villa manager David O’Leary is optimistic that midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger will sign a new contract. And O’Leary believes staying at Villa is Hitzlsperger’s best chance of being part of Germany’s 2006 World Cup squad in his homeland.